Two compartment envelope



July 21, 1931. c. E. CATHER TWO-COMPARTMENT ENVELOPE Filed June 4, 1921 x l I lllllllIlIIHl\lllillllllllllillll Illlfllllll lflllllllll llllllillll i MR.JOHN 00E,

WORCESTER, mns s.

Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE CHARLES- E. CATHER, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES ENVELOPE COMJEANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE Application filed June 4, 1921.

My invention relates to envelopes of the type having two separate compartments, one of which is capable of being securely sealed and is adapted to receive postal matter of the first class, and the other of which is adapted to receive bulky matter mailable at a lesser rate than first class matter.

The object of my invention is to provide an envelope of the above described type that is adapted to be formed from a single blank with a minimum number of folding, pressing and sealing operations, all of which can be readily performed by the machines usually employed in the manufacture of standard envelopes. These and other advantageous features of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a blank, shown in its ex- 2 tended form, from which my improved envelope is folded.

Fig. 2 represents a completed envelope folded from the blank shown in Fig. 1, and showing a piece of mail matter being inserted in the first class mail compartment.

Fig. 3 represents a portion of the completed envelope shown in Fig. 2, with the first class mail compartment sealed.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

The blank from which my envelope is constructed, as represented in Fig. 1, consists of a body portion 1 having at one end a closing flap 2 and at the opposite end an end 'fiap 3 provided with a gummed portion 4. One side of the body portion 1 is provided with a side flap 5 of substantially the same width as the body portion 1. A second side flap 6 is provided on the opposite side of the body portion 1 and has a gummed surface 7 extending along its outer longitudinal side. Additional gummed surfaces 8 and 9 are also provided on the side flap 6 and extend transversely across the same. The side flap 6 is further provided with a seal flap 10 having a gummed surface 11 on its reverse side. A window opening 12 and a slot 13 are provided in the side flap 6 within the area inclosed between the gummed surfaces 8 and 9 and a portion TWO COMPARTMENT. ENVELOPE Serial No. 474,930.

of the gummed surface 7, for a purpose to be be hereinafter described.

In forming the envelope from the blank shown in Fig. 1, the side flap 5 is first folded over upon the body portion 1 on the broken line 14:. The side flap 6 is next folded on the broken line 15 upon the previously folded over side flap 5, to which it adheres by means of the gummed surfaces 7 8 and 9. The end flap 3 is next folded on the dot and dash line 16 upon the side flaps 5 and 6, to which it adheres by means of the gummed surface at. This last operation completes the envelope, which then appears as shown in Fig. 2. The completed envelope now comprises a compartment for mail matter other than first class, which is provided by the body portion 1 and the side flap 5, and a compartment for first class mail matter which is provided by side flaps 5 and 6 within the area inclosed by the gummed surfaces 7, 8 and 9.

Mail matter may be readily inserted into the large compartment between the body portion 1 and the side flap 5, and this compartment may then be closed by tucking in the flap 2, or otherwise securing the flap 2, in any suitable and well known manner. Mail matter may be inserted into the small compartment through the slot 13, the mail matter being preferably so folded that the address will be disclosed through the window opening 12. The small compartment may then be closed by folding the seal flap 10 on the line 17 upon the main portion of the side flap 6, to which it adheres by means of the gummed surface 11 between the window opening 12 and the slot 13. The envelope 15 then ready for mailing after placing the proper amount of first class postage on the seal flap 10, and the proper amount of postage for mail other than first class on the side fla 5.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an improved two compartment envelope that may readily be formed from a single blank vwithout requiring the use of machines any more complicated than those usually employed in the manufacture of envelopes. The completed envelope 1s particularly adapted for the mailing of bulky matter with which it is desired to simultaneously deliver a letter or other similar paper, which would otherwise have to be mailed separately as first class matter. An example of this double use of the envelope is whereit is desired to mail motor vehicle license plates with a, printed license.

While I am aware that duplex envelopes have been heretofore used, my improved envelope possesses material advantages over prior envelopes of this class, owing to the fact that it may be readily formed from a single blank by ordinary envelope machines. Furthermore, the construction of the first class mail compartment in my envelo e is such that the mail matter is entirely inc osed by sealed portions, so that there is no chance of it working out of place into the other compartment of the envelope. Lastly, the provision of a separate slot for the insertion of matter into the first class mail compartment insures that it may be readily inserted therein, and substantially eliminates the possibility of such mail matter being accidentally damaged when cutting away the sealing flap in order to open the envelope.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an envelope formed wholly from a single sheet or blank and providing two independent compartments; one within the area of the other, the entrance to one of said compartments being a slit in one flap of the blank, and said flap having an integral extension adapted to form a closure for said slit, independent of the entrance closure of the other compartment.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a two compartment envelope formed from a single sheet or blank, the latter having opposite flaps, folded one upon the other and adhesively secured, the innermost flap constituting a wallcommon to both compartments, and the outermost flap having a slit therein providing an entrance to one of said compartments remote from the entrance to the other compartment, said outermost flap hav-- ing a free extension adapted to form' a closure forsaid slit.

3. A two-compartment envelope formed from' a single sheet or blank, the latter having a body portion and two side flaps, one flap of the same width as said body portion and i folded thereon to form one compartment and constituting a wall common to. both compartments,andthe other flap folded upon the first flap and secured thereto by edgewise and transverse adhesion, to form a second compartment, said last named flap having a slit to provide access to said second compartment. 7 i

4. A two-compartment envelope formed froma single sheet or blank, the latter having a body portion and two side flaps, one flap of the same width as saidbody portion portion, a side flap of the same widt neaaeac and folded thereon to form one compartment, and the other flap folded upon the first flap and secured thereto by edgewise and transverse adhesion, to form a second compartment, said last named flap having a slit to provide access to said second compartment and having an extension forming a closure for said slit.

5. A two-compartment envelope formed from a single sheet or blank, the latter having a body portion and two side flaps, one flap of the same width as said body portion and folded thereon to form one compa tment and constituting a wall common to both compartments, and the other flap folded upon the first flap and secured thereto by edgewise and transverse adhesion, to form a second compartment, said last named flap having a slit to provide access to said second compartment and having a window to disclose the address on the inclosure of said second compartment.

6. An envelope having two pockets for inclosures, formed-from a blank havingla body body portion, such flap being folded thereon to form one pocket and constituting a wall common to both pockets, a second side flap having a longitudinal strip of adhesive material on its edge, transverse strips of adhesive material extending across said side flap, and a longitudinal slot within the area inclosed between said strips of adhesive material, said side fiap' being folded over on said first named side flap and attached thereto by its adhesive material to form a second pocket to which said slot provides an opening for the insertion of mail matter.

7. An envelope having two pockets for inclosures formed from a blank having a body portion, a side flap of the same Width as the body portion and folded thereon to form one pocket, a second side flap having a longitudinal strip of adhesive material on its edge, and a slot and an auxiliary flap provided on opposite sides of the longitudinal strip of adhesive material, the said side flap being folded over on said first named side flap and attached thereto by its adhesive as the llO 

